Clause 98 - Subordinate legislation: parliamentary control
Childcare Bill
10:30 am
Nick Gibb (Shadow Minister (Schools), Education; Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 201, in page 49, line 24, at end insert—
‘(ab)regulations under section 7,’.
The amendment would make the regulation-making powers in clause 7 subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. Clause 7 deals with the duty to secure prescribed early years provision free of charge. It allows the Secretary of State to prescribe in regulation the type and amount of provision and the age of children who should benefit from it. That is important. In effect, the regulations will determine the age from which free schooling and child care is given. It has important policy implications as well as important financial implications. It should therefore be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure so that such issues can be properly debated in the House before the age at which children receive free child care is determined.